THE UST Golden Shuttlers scored back-to-back wins over the University of the East to open the UAAP Season 79 badminton tournament at the Rizal Memorial Complex Saturday.
The Male Shuttlers dominated the Red Warriors, 5-0, while the Female Shuttlers finished with a 3-2 win over their foes.
“Kung itutuloy lang nila (Male Shuttlers) ‘yung ganitong intensity ng game, may chance talaga tayo sa Final Four,” said UST head coach Noli Cajefe, who had low expectations for his wards coming into the season.
UE forced the Female Shuttlers to a fifth set as the duo of Ann Pimentel and Kristine Gaspar succumbed to twins Heide Rosal and Lyra Rosal, 17-21, 21-19, 12-21.
But Lady Shuttlers captain Steffi Aquino saved the day as she powered a 21-11, 21-8 win against UE’s Erycka Labay in the fifth match.
“Problema natin ngayon ‘yung women’s kasi nabawasan pa tayo ng isa,” Cajefe said.
Victoria Vismonte will miss tomorrow’s game due to a partial knee-joint injury she suffered in the last set of her match.
Both UST squads improved to a 1-0 record while the UE teams slipped to 0-1.
UST will face National University tomorrow at the same venue. Jan Carlo Anolin
